On Wednesday, December 13, Hopkinton’s Chuck Joseph presented “The Story of Hopkinton: 1950 – Present” at the Hopkinton High School.
A former HHS history teacher, Joseph wove a spectacular narrative, and there were several “ooh’s” and “ah’s” from the the crowd as he merged the past with the present. The history of Weston Nurseries, Hopkinton’s connection to the Celtics and Bruins, and how a WWII bombardier strongly influenced Hopkinton’s economic future all featured in the presentation. Many of the names Joseph referenced have direct descendants living in town, to the delight of the attendees.
Joseph was assisted, both in research and the presentation, by his friend Aubrey Doyle, Jr.
We are thankful to our friends at HCAM for recording this presentation, and even more grateful to Joseph and Doyle, who spent the better part of a year interviewing residents and steeped in research to create this wonderful tale of our town’s rich history.
Thanks to Chuck Joseph, Aubrey Doyle Jr. and all that had a hand in this most informative presentation. Thanks also to HCAM for recording it and Hopnews for posting it in a very timely manor.
I grew up in Hopkinton in the 50’s and I knew quite a bit of what was presented, but it was nice to re-live the past for a little over an hour and learn more about the subjects I only knew snippets from.
Secondly, because I left Hopkinton to go over to the dark side to marry an Ashland girl in 1979, I had no idea Chuck was a teacher and coach in the school system. He appeared quite comfortable engaging the audience and really knew his subject matter. I hope there will be more of these topics in the upcoming years.
Once again, thanks to all who contributed.
Jacques LeDuc
Chuck, wow, really great job. When I saw 1 hour and 19 minutes was the length of the video, I was certain I wouldn’t finish it. I watched until the end credits rolled. Bravo!
“It’s what we do,” was a perfect way to summarize a community’s spirit, a spirit I experienced in a most memorable way the first Spring after moving my Photography business to 24 Main Street from my Hayward Street home in 1992.
I had already benefitted from meeting your first commenter, Jacques LeDuc, who grew up in his family’s home behind my new workplace. He has been the onsite voice who does the live announcing and color commentating before and during each Boston Marathon from the reviewing stand for years. He also cut the stencils and painted the Start line for 35 years before retiring (From that job).
Our vehicle parking was behind the studio, a driveway also shared by Jacque’s angelic mother, Marie LeDuc, who has since passed. I asked if I could cut a few flowers from her lush lilac bush that bordered the property line.
She answered that I could take as much as I wanted.
I told her about the first time my grandmother took me out to her back porch to smell the lilacs, and how it was the most pleasant smell my 3 year-old I had ever encountered.
“So every time I smell lilacs, I think of my grandmother, Rose,” I told her.
One year later, Mrs. LeDuc knocked softly at my front door.
“Hi, how are you?” I asked, happy to see her visit.
“These are for you,” she said, handing me a bouquet of lilacs in a large vase full of water.
“In memory of your grand-mother,” she said in her flowing French accent.
I can still hear her voice as well as my grandmother’s.
And each Spring, for as long as I live, I will continue to make a point of smelling Lilacs and thinking of those wonderful grandmothers.
~Robert
Fascinating insights to Hopkinton’s history. I have sent a link to my kids, who all grew up in Hopkinton – and two still live there – suggesting they take the time to watch the video. Well, done, Chuck!
Thank you, Chuck. I moved here in 2009 and attended a talk you gave on town history for the Women’s club. I’d love to hear that one again, as I was so starstruck overall with the deep history of New England and every word was like standing in front of a candy counter! I have repeated so much of what I think I heard – things that people who have lived here longer than I have didn’t know! I don’t really like a lot of what has happened to “MY little New England town”, so I’m thrilled that we are about maxed out, but this presentation did restore some of my lost pride. Thank you for your interest and work! If you need a research assistant for the book you better be planning to write……
Excellent presentation. Thanks to Chuck and Aubrey for their efforts.